Arts Commission

City of Joliet 150 West Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60432 Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, April 16, 2025 5:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers Arts Commission Commission Members Deborah Filotto Donna Franks-Tapley Eric Gorder Tom Grotovsky Vince Logan Ron Romero John Simpson,Jr. Peg Stoiber Deborah Summers Arts Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 16, 2025 Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov. 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. Commissioners Simpson, Jr., Stoiber, Summers, Filotto, and Franks-Tapley were present. The Commission voted 5-0 to make Donna Franks-Tapley the temporary Commission Chair for the meeting, since the Chair and Vice-Chair were absent. Present John Simpson Jr, Peg (Marguerite) Stoiber, Deborah Summers, Deborah Filotto and Donna Franks-Tapley Absent Ron Romero, Vince Logan and Tom Grotovsky 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Attachments: Meeting Minutes_AC 03.19.2025.pdf A motion was made by John Simpson, Jr, seconded by Peg (Marguerite) Stoiber, to approve COUNCIL MEMO #TMP-8470: Meeting Minutes - March 19, 2025 Arts Commission. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Simpson Jr, Stoiber, Summers, Filotto and Franks-Tapley Absent: Romero, Logan and Grotovsky 3. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS None. This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Commission members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion of potential items of expenditure and projects for 2025 Staff Liaison Heitner provided an update of the projected 2025 IAC Grant items of expenditure. Mr. Heitner asked the Commission if anyone would have interest in attending the Illinois Arts Council's One State conference in November. Commissioners Franks-Tapley, Simpson, and Filotto expressed interest in attending. Mr. Heitner stated that the estimated cost to send 2-4 Commissioners to the conference would range between $1,500 and $2,000 which would be drawn from IAC Grant funds for conference registration and hotel bookings . Transportation and meal costs would either need to be drawn from a 2026 IAC Grant, if awarded, or from the Planning Department's Travel/Training budget. Mr. Heitner then provided an overview of several potential projects that he wanted the Commission to consider for 2025 grant expenditure. Projects that were discussed included a poetry wall/garden concept in front of the Ottawa Street parking deck, a busking musician series, an artistic pocket park at Ottawa and Chicago Streets, a relocation of the George Mikan statue, funding toward the City Square Sculpture effort, exterior artistic lighting options, and replicating Minnesota's Great Places concept on city-owned land. Of these options, the Page 1 of 3 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 16, 2025 Commission expressed the most interest in the Ottawa Street/Chicago Street pocket park option. The Commission stated that this location could be a nice visual introduction to Downtown. The Commission discussed having an attractive sign with Route 66 or Joliet themes incorporated at the south end of the grass area. Commissioner Franks-Tapley also suggested placing a mural on the existing grass area that would be made on a hard surface . Incorporating a painted bench with painted planters was also suggested. Commissioners Summers and Franks-Tapley agreed to look into producing a concept drawing of what could possibly be done to rennovate this area. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Election of Arts Commission Chair A motion was made by Peg (Marguerite) Stoiber, seconded by John Simpson, Jr, to appoint Tom Grotovsky as the Arts Commission Chair for the remainder of 2025. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Simpson Jr, Stoiber, Summers, Filotto and Franks-Tapley Absent: Romero, Logan and Grotovsky B. Election of Arts Commission Vice-Chair A motion was made by John Simpson, Jr, seconded by Deborah Filotto, to appoint Donna Franks-Tapley as Arts Commission Vice-Chair for the remainder of 2025. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Simpson Jr, Stoiber, Summers, Filotto and Franks-Tapley Absent: Romero, Logan and Grotovsky C. Discussion on the upcoming Route 66 Centennial and potential art projects Staff Liaison Heitner stated that City staff is interested in beautifying Downtown Joliet in advance of the 2026 Route 66 Centennial. In addition to the previously discussed projects, the Commission is encouraged to think of other ways to beautify Downtown Joliet with new or refurbished public art. 6. NEW OR OLD BUSINESS, NOT FOR FINAL ACTION OR RECOMMENDATION None. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT None. This section is for anyone wanting to speak regarding non-agenda items and are allowed a maximum of 4 minutes. It is not a question and answer period and staff, and the Commission members do not generally respond to public comments. The City Clerk has a copy of the public speaking procedures; please note, speakers who engage in conduct injurious to the harmony of the meeting shall be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may forfeit the opportunity to speak. 8. ADJOURNMENT Page 2 of 3 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 16, 2025 A motion was made by John Simpson, Jr, seconded by Donna Franks-Tapley, to adjourn the meeting at 6:33 p.m.. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Simpson Jr, Stoiber, Summers, Filotto and Franks-Tapley Absent: Romero, Logan and Grotovsky This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact The City Clerk Office, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780. Page 3 of 3